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A Party with Heart: Southwest Pilot Shares her Experience as a Mentor in our Adopt-A-Pilot Program

nmartinbelitz
Employee
Employee

2_qunyyt.jpgAt the end of last year, I had the opportunity to help celebrate two very special programs sponsored by Southwest Airlines. In 2017, Southwest Airlines celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Medical Transportation Grant Program and the 20th anniversary of its Adopt-A-Pilot program. Both programs celebrate children and there is no better way to bring these two events together than to create an incredible day for some amazing kids at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®!

 

1_jvy9q6.jpgBy volunteering for the Adopt-A-Pilot program over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to mentor many fifth grade students in their classrooms. As Pilots, we help educate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related topics. These include basic aerodynamics and helping students apply their math, geography, and science studies to real-life applications. Through the program, we encourage students to set a goal and have the tenacity and fearlessness to attain it. We advocate the core values of being kind, grateful, and honest. We also look to encourage leadership, honesty, and kindness.


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I was thrilled to recently visit the children at St. Jude and share some of our Adopt-A-Pilot classroom activities with them! Along with other Adopt-A-Pilot Ambassadors, I visited with the children and led activities like arts and crafts where we constructed small airplanes and even had fun in a photo booth. There was also an indoor mock runway where we launched the paper airplanes. The kids were especially excited to have every imaginable question about airplanes answered by actual Pilots! It was wonderful to show support to St. Jude, who Southwest Airlines proudly supports by providing complimentary, roundtrip tickets for their patients and their families through our Medical Transportation Grant Program.

 

This day was truly intended to inspire and celebrate these children and while we accomplished that goal, the children in attendance also inspired us with their tenacity and constant courage. I am extremely honored to work for a Company that has such a big Heart and sponsors programs that have such a positive impact on the lives of children.

 

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All photos provided were courtesy of St. Jude